Have you ever had THAT feeling? The feeling that there was something missing in your life—a void that even a happily content life could not fill? The feeling that you were being called to something more? This was the burning ember that Genevieve Piturro had in her heart before she would start an organization that would change the lives of so many children.
Let’s back up a bit, shall we? My husband and I have “Jellybean.” Many childless years went by before our daughter would be born to us through the gift of surrogacy. We fundraised, we worked and prayed to get her into our arms. I had a prayer I would whisper every night. If we were to be blessed with a child, then I vowed that he/she would know Christ and secondly we would teach our child the beauty of giving. So many people helped us during our family building pursuits. Strangers, friends, family, most of all our gestational carrier— all made our dream possible, because they gave.
Today, our daughter is a wiggly, giggly very active little 1 year old and for her birthday we did something a little different. We asked that no one bring a gift. Horrible parenting right? Am I scarring my child for life? No, trust me she is showered with gifts, toys, clothes and a 1000 other items that will lose her interest in a few months or that I will step on unsuspectingly in the wee hours of the night. Instead, we asked that people who came to her birthday party donate to a charity that we chose on her behalf until she is old enough to pick for herself.
This was hard for my husband and me. There are so many deserving causes out there so what would we pick? What spoke to our heart? After doing some minor internet recognizance and talking to a few charitable people we know, we unanimously agreed on choosing the Pajama Program.
After reaching out to this organization and participating in a pajama drive, I was inspired by their mission and felt a strong pull in my heart to know more. I found out that the Pajama Program provides a pair of new pajamas and new books to children who live in group homes, temporary housing and shelters. These are the children who enter into the foster care system because of neglect, abandonment, abuse and other, more toxic environments and situations that will make you lose sleep indefinitely. Many have never had the love and comfort of a parent that will tuck them in at night and read to them as they fall asleep. Sadly, most of these children come from families whose income is below the poverty level where basic needs like clothing, food and shelter are often not met. 1.6 million American children will go to sleep tonight without a home of their own.
After learning about this organization’s mission, I was truly honored to interview Genevieve Piturro, Founder and Executive Director of this amazing cause. No one thinks of these kids in this moment. The moment where they feel lost, alone and uncertain of their future. But she did. She had a dream for 1 million good nights and more.
It all began with a feeling of wanting more in her life. Like many career driven women, the fast pace of success and a busy New York life kept marriage and children out of her line of sight. She wanted more than her life was giving her so she decided go to some shelters and group homes around the city a few evenings after work and read to the children. During one of her weekly visits Genevieve noticed that after she read to them, the children would go straight to another room with cots and couches and go to bed. No warm glass of milk and cookies, no kiss on the forehead to wish them goodnight, and most of all no pajamas to sleep in. Instead, they would go to sleep in the same clothes they arrived in that day until they were placed the following day in a semi-permanent foster care home.
Out of her personal finances she brought pairs of pajamas of all sizes and books. She recalled a moment that would change her life permanently.
“When I came back to the shelter, I began to hand them (pajamas and books) out to all of the children but one little girl would not take them from me. She just stood by me and did not leave my side as I handed them out. Afterwards, I asked her if she wanted some pajamas. The little girl asked me, “WHAT are they?” I wasn’t sure if I had heard her right, but I told this little girl that they are PJs and they are soft and you wear them to sleep. What do you wear? She tugged at her clothes and said ‘my pants.’ It was the low hanging fruit that needed the love now, in that moment. I gave the pajamas to the little girl, and she was amazed at the comfort.”
On the way home on the subway, Genevieve told me with a spark in her voice, “I was riding the subway home and had a Eureka! moment. That’s when I came up with the idea of the Pajama Program.”
It would take roughly 2 years to get off the ground. She attributes her success to friends and family that would help donate and host drives. She also mentioned her (now married) very supportive spouse, would wait for her outside of sketchy at best neighborhoods, so she could bring these children a good night sleep in new pajamas. “I couldn’t bear children, but I can help them in another way,” said Genevieve. Because of this idea, this want for more in her life, The Pajama Program was born in 2001 as has been growing across the nation with 60 Chapters in 33 States.
This is all made possible by public contributions, hosting pajama drives, monetary contributions and partnering with sponsors like Carters and Scholastic. I asked Genevieve naively, “why brand new pajamas? Wouldn’t you be able to collect more if you were able to donate used ones?” I loved her response, “We only take new ones. They always have other people’s leftovers, but they never have anything new. No one thinks of PJs.” She was right, as I hung my head in shame for my question. No one thinks of these simple yet so important needs for the kids in these environments.
Even though this organization has grown, the Pajama Program faces the same challenge every day which is the ever growing wait list. Another issue is the lack of bigger sizes for the tweens and teens. There are many kids who are wearing sizes 16 and older. I can’t even imagine being an older child entering into this system. They are already struggling with the just being a “tween” and now their home and stability as they know is shaken and uprooted which further isolates them. Something clean and new makes them in that brief moment, feel like a normal kid.
Here is where I challenge you. You can read this article and have awareness of this organization. You can read this article and SHARE awareness of this organization with others. Or perhaps, you can read this article and be a part of this amazing cause. There are so many ways to get involved. Click HERE to learn how.
